Alkanoylthio-17alpha-carboxyethyl-17beta-hydroxyandrosten-3-one lactones



ted States 3,l3,hl2 Patented Dec, 12, 1961 This invention relates to alkanoylthio-l7a-carboxyethyl-l7fl-hydroxyandrosten-3-one lactones, or compounds corresponding, and processes for the manufacture thereof. More particularly, this invention relates to 1- (lower alkanoyDthio, 7-(l0wer alkanoyl)thio, and 1,7-dilower alkanoyDthio lactones of the formula 3 ago wherein E represents an ethylene or vinylene radical; E represents an ethylene, vinylene, or (lower alkanoyl)thioethylene radical; E represents an ethylene, Vinylene (lower alkanoyDthioethylene, or (lower alkanoyl)thiopropylene radical; and R represents a methyl radical except when E and E represent ethylene and (lower alkanoyDthioethylene radicals, respectively, in which case R represents either a methyl radical or hydrogen. It will be understood from the foregoing disclosure that the compounds of this invention are unexceptionably characterized by the presence of a (lower alkanoyl)thio side-chain on one or both of the carbons at positions 1 and 7 in the steroid nucleus.

The application for Letters Patent securing the invention herein described and claimed is a continuation-inpart of applicants prior copending application, Serial No. 779,853, filed December 12, 1958, now abandoned.

By (lower alkanoyDthio herein is meant a radical of the formula -I I lower alkyl 0- S CH!/\ go l lower alkyl-C-S n O: S Clower alkyl are specified, E being defined as before and the sulfurcontaining substituents at l and 7 being either in the or or 5 configuration. Similarly and further by way of illustration, when E represents ethylene and E" represents (lower alkanoyDthioethylene, compounds of the formula H S C-lower alkyl are specified, E being as before and R in this circumstance representing either a methyl radical or hydrogen. Finally, when E represents, let us say, ethylene and E" represents (lower alkanoyl)thiopropylene, the compounds specified have the formula CHa/\ 0 1 5 3Ulower alkyl E again being as before and the configuration of the substituents at 6 and 7 being either a or 3, though the or configuration is usual for the 6-methyl radical.

Assignment of configurations at positions 1, 6, and 7 in the instant compositions is based upon analyses of molecular rotation data.

Equivalent to the subject lactones for purposes of this invention are the corresponding hydroxy acids and their salts, of the formula E-COOM i lower alkyl-C S H with an appropriate steroid of the formula n o I I E having the meaning assigned above; Z being so selected from among ethylene and vinylene radicals and Z from ethylene, vinylene, and methylvinylene radicals that at least one of Z and Z is always unsaturated; and R being a methyl radical when Z is vinylene, otherwise either a methyl radical or hydrogen. A solvent medium can be employed, if desired, and ultraviolet irradiation can be used to increase reaction rates.

The starting materials for this process of manufacture are with two exceptions obtained as described in United States Patent No. 2,900,383. The exceptions: 17oz-(2- carboxyethyl) 17,3 hydroxy 19 norandrost 4 en- 3-one lactone, the starting material for Example 8A 2 hereafter, is obtained as described in United States Patent No. 2,918,463; and 17 ot-(2-carboxyethyl)-17fi-hydroxy- GB-methylandrost-4-en-3-one lactone, the starting material for Example 9A, is obtained as described in United States Patent No, 2,938,031.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the described lactones, on contact with appropriate aqueous bases [e.g., KOH, NaOH, NH OH, Ca(OH) etc.], are

converted to salts of the corresponding hydroxy acids, from which the free acids can be obtained by a critically brief exposure to a proton source. Prolongation of the exposure time induces lactonization.

The following examples describe in detail compounds illustrative of the present invention and methods which have been devised for their manufacture. However, the invention is not to be construed as limited thereby, either in spirit or in scope, since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art of organic synthesis that many modifications, both of materials and of methods, may be practiced without departing from the purpose and intent of this disclosure. Throughout the examples hereinafter set forth, temperatures are given in degrees centigrade and relative amounts of materials in parts by weight, except as otherwise noted.

EXAMPLE 1 1 acetylthio 17a (2 carboxyethyl) 17B hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lact0ne.-A mixture of 1 part of 17a (2 carboxyethyl) 17/3 hydroxyandrosta 1,4- dien-3-one lactone and 1 part of thioacetic acid is heated at approximately 90 for /2 hour. The bulk of the excess thioacetic acid is then evaporated under nitrogen and the residue crystallized from a mixture of ethyl acetate and ether. Recrystallization from ethyl acetate afiords 1oz acetylthio 17cc (2 carboxyethyl) 17,3 hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone melting at approximately 199- 200 (with decomposition) and which has the formula (2 carboxyethyl) 17B hydroxyandrost 4 en 3- one lactone as hereinbefore described, upon evaporation of solvent and chromatographic purification via silica gel absorption, using benzene and ethyl acetate as developing solvents, there is obtained lfl-acetylthio-lh-(Z-carboxyethyl)-17B-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone, of the formula EXAMPLE 2 17a (Z-carboxyethyl) 17B hydroxy 10c propionylthi0andr0st-4-en-3-one lactone.-A mixture of 7 parts of 17a-(2-carboxyethyl)-l7;9-hydroxyandrosta-1, 1.- dien-3-one lactone and 10 parts of thiopropionic acid 15 heated at approximately 90 for 1 hour. Ethyl acetate and sufficient hexane to induce crystallization are added, and the product which separates is further purified by recrystallization from a mixture of benzene and hexane. The 170: (2-carboxyethyl)-l7fi-hydroxy-la-propionylthioandrost-4-en-3-one lactone thus obtained melts at l76178 (with decomposition) and has the formula 7 acetylthio 17a (2 carboxyethyl) 17,3 hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lact0ne.-A mixture of approximately 11 parts of 17a-(2-carboxyethy1)-17,B-hydroxyandrosta-4,6-dien-3-one lactone and 10 parts of thioacetlc acid is heated at 85-95 for /2 hour. Excess thioacetic acid is removed by vacuum distillation at this point, and the residue is twice recrystallized from methanol, affording c acetylthio 17a (2 carboxyethyl) 17/8-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone, melting at approximately l3413S. Heated above this melting point, the product solidifies and melts again at approximately 201-202 (with decomposition). 7a acetylthio 17a (2 carboxyethyl)-17p-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone has the formula ethyl)-17B-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone as hereinbefore described, upon concentration to approximately V2 volume and chilling, there precipitates 7B-acetylthio- 17a (2 carboxyethyl) 17,8 hydroxyandrost 4 en- 3-one lactone which, further purified by recrystallization from methanol, melts at 227-230. This material has Whereas the specific rotation 1% in chloroform solution) of 7a-acetylthio-17a-(2-carboxyethyl)-17,8-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone is -33.5, the 7/8-acetylthio isomer is characterized by a specific rotation of +61.

EXAMPLE 4 17a (2 carboxyethyl) 17,8 hydroxy 70c propionylthiandrost-4-en-3-0ne lactonen-A mixture of 13 parts of l7a-(2-carboxyethyl)-17 3-hydroXyandrosta-4,6- dien-3-one lactone and parts of thiopropionic acid is heated at 90 for /2 hour. Work-up as detailed in the preceding Example 3 affords 17u(2-carboxyethyl)-17 3- hydroxy 7a propionylthioandrost 4 en 3 one lactone, melting at l92.5-194. The product has the formula i O: --S-CC2H5 EXAMPLE 5 17oz (2 carboxyethyl) 175 hydroxy 70c octaneylthi0andr0st-4-en-3-one lactone.A mixture of 1 part of 17a (2 carboxyethyl) 17B hydroxyandrosta 4, 6-dien-3-one lactone and 1 part of thiooctanoic acid (preparable by substituting octanoic anhydride for acetic anhydride in the Organic Synthesis procedures for thiolacetic acid, volume 31, page 105 if.) is heated at 85- 95 for 2 hours, then cooled and diluted with approximately 50 parts of ether. The resultant solution is washed with aqueous sodium carbonate, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and uum distillation. The residue is chromatographed on silica gel, using benzene and ethyl acetate as developing solvents. From an eluate comprising 5% ethyl acetate in benzene, on evaporation of solvent, there is obtained 17cc (2 carboxyethyl) 17B hydroxy 70c octanoylthioandrost-4-en-3-one lactone as the residue, a glass. The product has the formula Ja,7a diacetylzhz'o 17oz (2 carboxyethyl) 175- hydroxyandrost 4 en 3 one lactone methan0-late.-

6 A mixture of 5 parts of '17u-(2-carboxyethyl)-17fi-hydroxyandmsta-l,4,6-trien-3-one lactone monomethanolate stripped of solvent by vacand 10 parts of thioacetic acid is heated at for 1 hour. Excess thioacetic acid is thereupon removed by vacuum distillation; and the residue is chromatographed on silica gel, using benzene and ethyl acetate as developing solvents. From an eluate. comprising 10% ethyl acetate in benzene there is obtained, on evaporation of solvent, 10:,7oc diacetylthio 17cc (2 carboxyethyD- l7,6-hydroXyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone as the residue. Upon dissolution of this material in methanol and removal of solvent-by distillation, the monomethanolate results. 10,7ca diacetylthio 17a (2 carboxyethyU- 17/8-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone is characterized by a maximum'in the ultraviolet spectrum at 237 In, and peaks in the infrared spectrum at 3.4-, 5.65, 5.9, 6.2, 7.4, 8.5, 8.8, and 10.5 It has the formula JS-ii-CH:

EXAMPLE 7 I-acetylthio 17a (Z-carboxyethyl) hydroxyandrostd- 4,6 dien-3-0ne lactone and 7-aceZylzhio-J7a- (Z-carbOxyethyZ)-I7fi-hydi 0xyandr0stm-1,4-dien 3 one lactone.-A solution of 10 parts of 17u(2-carboxyethyl) 17,8-hydroxyandrosta-1,4,6-trien-3-one lactone monomethanolate in a mixture of 3 parts of thioacetic acid and 750 parts of chloroform is irradiatedwith ultraviolet light for 3 hours. Chloroform is then removed by distillation under nitrogen; and the residue, dissolved in benzene, is subjected to column chromatography on 300 parts of silica gel. The column is consecutively washed with benzene and 5%, 8%, and 10% solutions of ethyl acetate in benzene, following which it is eluted with 12%, 15%, and 20% solutions of ethyl acetate in benzene. From the early eluates, on evaporation of solvent, there is obtained, preponderant- 1y, lot-acetylthio-17a(2-carboxyethyl) 175 hydroxyandrosta-4,6-dien-3-one lactone, which is characterized by a maximum in the ultraviolet absorption spectrum at 287 m The product has the formula From later eluates, on evaporation of solvent, there is obtained 7a-acetylthio 170a (2-carboxyethyl)-17,8-hy droxyandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one lactone, which melts at and has the formula 7 EXAMPLE 8 A. 17a-(2-carb0xyerhyl) 17,8 hydroxy-IQ-norandrosta-4,6-dien-3-one lactne.-To a solution of 820 parts of chloranil in 87000 parts of xylene containing 1 part of p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate is added, with agitation at the boiling point under reflux, 1000 parts of 17a- (Z-carboxyethyl)-l75-hydroxy 19 norandrost-4-en-3- one lactone. The lactone dissolves. The resultant solution is maintained at the boiling point under reflux for 1 hour and then cooled and chromatographed on silica gel, using benzene and ethyl acetate as developing solvents. There is isolated by this means the desired 17(x-(2-C3Tb0XY- ethyl)-17B-hydroxy-l9-norandrosta-4,6rdien 3 one lactone which, recrystallized from ethyl acetate, melts in the range 235-239.

l3. 7a-acetylthi0-17a-(2-carboxyethy0-1 7fi-hydr0xy-19- n0randr0st-4-en-3-0ne lactone.-A mixture of 47 parts of 17a-(2-carboxyethyl) 175 hydroxy-l9-norandrosta-4,6- dien-3one lactone with 100 parts of thioacetic acid is heated at 8095 for several hours. Excess thioacetic acid is removed by vacuum distillation; and the residue is recrystallized from methanol, affording 7ot-acetylthio-l7u- (Z-carboxyethyl)-l7 3-hydroxy-l9-norandrost 4 en 3- one lactone, melting at ill-113. The product has the formula if 0: --S CGH:

EXAMPLE 9 A. 17a-(2-carb0xyethyl)-17fi-hydroxy 6 methylandr0sta-4,6-dien-3-0ne lactone.-A solution of 5 parts of l7et-(2-carboxyethyl) 17s hydroxy-Gfl-methylandrost- 4-en-3-one lactone and 5 parts of chloranil in 400 parts of xylene containing a trace of p-toluenesulfonic acid is heated at the boiling point of the solvent under reflux overnight. The solution is then stripped of solvent by vacuum distillation; and the residue is chromatographed on silica gel, using benzene and ethyl acetate as developing solvents. By this means there is isolated 17a-(2-carboxyethyl)-17p-hydroxy-6-methylandr0sta 4,6 dien-3-one lactone, the melting point of which is 20420S.

B. 7-acetylthi0 17oz (Z-carbOxyeIhyI)-17 B-hydr0xy- 6-methylandrost-4-en-3-0ne lact0ne.A mixture of 11 parts of 17a-(2-carboxyethyl)-17B-hydroxy-6-methylandrosta-4,6-dien-3-one lactone and parts of thioacetic acid is heated at 85-95 for h hour, whereupon excess thioacetic acid is removed by vacuum distillation and the residue is crystallized from ether, affording 7a-acetylthiol7u-(2-carboxyethyl)-17/3-hydroxy 6o: methylandrost 4-en-3-one lactone, melting at 237-240" (with decomposition). The product has the formula From the ethereal mother liquo remaining after crystallization of 7ot-acetylthio-l7a (2-carboxyethyl)-l7,B hydroxy-6ot-methylandrost-4-en-3-one lactone as hereinbefore described, upon evaporation of solvent and chromatographic purification via silica gel absorption, using benzene and ethyl acetate as developing solvents, there is obtained 7B-acet-ylthio 17a-(2-ca1'boxyethyl)-17fi-hydroxy 6/3-methylandrost 4-en-3-one lactone, of the formula What is claimed is: l. A steroid of the formula wherein E is selected from the group consisting of ethylene, vinylene, and (lower alkanoyl) thioethylene radicals; E is selected from the group consisting of ethylene, vinylene, (lower alkanoyl) thioethylene, and (lower alkanoyl) thiopropylene radicals; R is a methyl radical except when E and E" are ethylene and (lower alkanoyl) thioethylene radicals, respectively, in which case R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl radicals; and the selection of E and E is such that at least one (lower alkanoyl) thio radical is uncxceptionably present in the steroid nucleus.

2. A compound of the formula 11 lower alkyl-C- S ll S-G-lower alkyl 9 5. 7a acetylthio-lh (Z-carboxyethyl)-17B-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone.

6. 7,8 acety1thio-17a-(2 carboxyethyl)-17,B-hydroxandrost-4-en-3-one lactone.

7. 1a,7a diacetylthiml7u-(2-carboxyethyl) 17,8-hy- 5 droxandrost-4-en-3-one lactone.

8. 10a acetylthio 17 a-(2-ca rboXyethyl)-17;8 hydroxyandrosta-4,6-dien-3-one lactone.

9. 7a acetylthio-17a-(2-carboxyethy1) 17 8-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one lactone.

10. 7a acetylthio-l7a-(2-carboxyethy1)-17fi-hydroxy- 19-norandrost-4-en-3-one lactone.

11. 70c acetylthio-17a-(2-carboxyethy1)-17/8-hydroxy- 6a-methylandrost-4-en-3-one lactone. 7

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cella Aug. 18, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Noa 3,01%012 John A. Cella et alb It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column l lines 11 and 12, for "or compounds read nor compounds column 9, lines 3 and 4., and lines 5 and 6, for "17,5 hydroxandrost each occurrence read l7 6-hydroxyandrost Signed and sealed this 1st day of January 1963 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Gfficer DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents December l2 1961 

1. A STEROID OF THE FORMULA 